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| Message Subject: Tips for a frustrated musky addict? | |||
mistermcgoo |
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Posts: 3 | Hi all, New member to the forum here. I've been lurking on here for some time absorbing all of the great info. It seems like there's a lot of knowledgeable people on here.. As a new musky addict I can definitely appreciate that! So to my question: I primarily fish the Susquehanna River in PA. I've been fishing hard for musky for around a year and a half. I've only officialy boated two and have had a little over a dozen follows/misses (including hooked fish that got off). I have done my homework and learned where the best spots are from locals and have learned a lot of the river. I hear the Susquehanna is one of the better musky waterways in PA. Now, TRUST ME.. I understand how difficult musky are to catch, but that little action in literally about 60-70 trips (all averaging atleast 5 hours at the minimum) seems a little low? I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a fish, only to cast my lure out and have it COMPLETELY ignore it. Not even acknowledge it's existence. It seems like most of the musky's caught around here are by accident by people going for bass :(. I wonder though.. The few people I know that do target them insist on using no more than 20lb mono with wire leaders. I used 80lb braid with a flouro leader. Can fish be spooked by my line? It's moss green Sufix 832 that has faded to more of a tanish color. Other than that, I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong.. Any input would be awesome! Thanks | ||
| Randy |
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Posts: 243 Location: South Central Wisconsin | While I know nothing about the water you are fishing I'd have to say to pick your times better according to moon phases, weather changes, and always try to fish last light. Muskies know two things, eating, and reproduction. If a musky is ready to eat, it will. Also, if you are only fishing shallow water, try deeper. Figure out what they eat and fish where the bait is. | ||
| mistermcgoo |
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Posts: 3 | Randy - 7/10/2016 9:38 PM While I know nothing about the water you are fishing I'd have to say to pick your times better according to moon phases, weather changes, and always try to fish last light. Muskies know two things, eating, and reproduction. If a musky is ready to eat, it will. Also, if you are only fishing shallow water, try deeper. Figure out what they eat and fish where the bait is. Thanks for the reply Randy.. 1.) the Susquehanna is a fairly shallow river averaging 1-4' in the drier summer months with the occasional deep holes/pockets that get around 8-9' max. For the fall and winter months add a few feet to that 2.) I have compared the variables such as moon phases, weather changes, temps etc. and to be completely honest after I looked over the data I documented over one year nothing had proven to be a consistent factor. Though oddly enough about 50-75% of my action has come in the early afternoon, regardless of any other variables. Do you prefer last light vs. first light for any particular reason? I'm wondering if river fish are affected a little differently than their lake counterparts? 3.) As for fishing shallow vs. deep.. I usually make a point of it to fish both parts equally per trip depending on environmental factors. 4.) The Susquehanna has a plethora of suckers, carp and small bait fish. I'm not exaggerating when I say they are literally everywhere. I've heard from other guys here that suckers are their preference.. But with them being almost everywhere it makes using their presence as a sign of musky presence almost a moot point if you know what I mean. But on a side note on that topic.. I have found myself fishing in what would seem like prime musky territory (slack water, structure and forage galore) and think to myself.. "Now why in the hell would a musky want to eat this goofy looking lure at the end of my line when he has a plethora of the real thing sitting in his face??". Which usually funnels me into almost always using a slow presentation figuring that it might possibly opt for an easy meal rather than go for a fast moving sucker. | ||
| Randy |
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Posts: 243 Location: South Central Wisconsin | I would actually speed up your retrieve and make them react to it. Try black on black bucktails and burn them. Make sure you are casting out in front of where they may be laying. If you cast right on them, they may not show themselves. Typically you should be within 6 feet or so of them but, in clearer water, a little further sometimes. Mornings can be just as good as evenings. The main thing is, not having the sun penetrating the water. Edited by Randy 7/10/2016 9:27 PM | ||
| djwilliams |
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Posts: 793 Location: Ames, Iowa | Muskies aren't leader shy. What they are shy to is a boat passing overhead in shallow water. Are you fishing from a large boat? A canoe? Are you working upstream instead of downstream? I'd use bucktails and twitched crankbaits and topwaters with a lot of contrast on the bait- black/orange, silver/black, etc. since the bait isn't often in the strike zone very long in a river. Being optimistic here I have to state that you have boated two fish and had 12 that followed/hooked/missed. That means you contacted upwards of 15 fish in 60 trips (300 hours). I realize that the habitat is compressed quite a bit on a river, thus shortening the learning/finding curve, but sounds like you're doing things right. And you are fortunate too; I like smallie fishing in the local rivers, it would be great if there were muskies. | ||
| Slumpbuster |
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Posts: 119 | If your missing the following fish I would definitely speed up the retrieve as you get closer to the boat. I like to come in quickly to my figure 8 and start it with a soft L shape. I also like to change the depth as I go around. You also can't figure 8 long enough. If you lose sight of a following fish that seemed to come in hot I would go up to 5 minutes on the 8. I'm not sure what lures your using but I really like soft plastics and shallow invaders on rivers. If you know people locating fish on bass sized lures maybe try downsizing to some smaller crank baits. I know rattle-traps make excellent musky lures on some of the southern waters. I have had great success with some smaller grandmas, shallow raiders and jake baits. If your shallow something like a phantom or top raider might be the ticket. Hope this helps. | ||
| dogboy |
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Posts: 723 | one thing to note is your casting angles in the current. if you're seeing a fish downstream of your location, and plop a bait below them and reel against the current, you're sort of destined for failure on a neutral/negative fish. once in a while a positive fish will eat no matter what. (rarity tho) but... if you think about how the fish sit in the current, and how it's food is going to be naturally presented to it by the current carrying it towards them from upstream, that is how you should present your baits. well above the holding area, and make multiple casts to areas that are holding water. you'd be surprised that after a few casts, you think there is nothing there. but.... all it takes is the right cast! casting perpendicular to the current works too, but still a small window in making the swing into their face. I find casting almost straight upstream, or at a slight 20-40 degree angle gets it done a lot more than anything. just my opinion tho. | ||
| jonnysled |
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Posts: 13688 Location: minocqua, wi. | forget the muskies and go smallie fishing in that river ... | ||
| mistermcgoo |
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Posts: 3 | Wow, thanks for all of the replys! Lots of good info and tips! To answer a few of your questions.. Randy - So I should actually SPEED UP my retrieve? I would think that with all of the fast moving healthy forage available to them would make them snap up the opportunity to grab something slower moving. That whole energy/reward ratio people talk about.. I can certainly give it a try though. Then again this fish really don't make any sense at times! djwilliams - I fish from a 17' aluminum bass boat. You pretty much summed up my choice of tackle for this time of the year.. bucktails and mostly shallow invaders with the occasional smaller glider or jointed rapala if I'm throwing something smaller. I find myself almost exclusively using double 8's, though I do have a fair share of double 10's. Could be because I caught my personal best on a double 8 with black maribou/orange blades :). I've just never have much luck with the bigger blades for some reason. I've casted topwater a decent amount without any action. I see topwater is pretty popular among you guys.. is there something special about topwater in general that musky just seem to prefer? Casting wise I usually cast perpendicular the the current, casting into shore more often than not. Maybe I can try to cast more upstream and bring it down into their faces.. Guess it always just felt to me that casting perpendicular covered more ground. Slump buster - I've often thought about trying the smaller sized solid bodied cranks like grandma's and shallow depth raiders. Maybe I'll give them a shot! Thanks Dogboy - Thanks for the casting tips, I'll definitely try to incorporate some of those tactics next time I'm out. jonnyslef - Lol, yes the smallie fishing is quite great here. I'm sad to admit though.. after boating a couple muskies it's kind of diluted the excitement of smallie fishing for me personally (though their strength for their size never cease to amaze me!) | ||
| Sam Ubl |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | mistermcgoo - 7/10/2016 9:10 PM I have found myself fishing in what would seem like prime musky territory (slack water, structure and forage galore) Concentrate on current seams where different currents collide, as well as eddies where the current swirls and forms small slack water pools directly behind the obstruction (rocks, emergent stumps, small finger points, etc.). Baitfish stack up in these areas because they get relief from the current and muskies will face into the current just behind and along these areas to hunt. I typically don't focus too much on slack water, like oxbows or bayous because the water can get stagnant and hot during the summer time. Early spring slack water areas can be glorious with the spawn, but not too often do they hold fish in the summer unless a muskie is sunning itself after a meal, in which case they're not likely to be on the hunt when you see them sunning like that. River fishing is all about understanding the current and how fish use it to their advantage, starting with the bait. Again, bait will stack up in the current seams and eddie pools for relief from the current, but these small spot-on-the-spot areas are immediately relating to current so water temps and oxygen are optimal. | ||
| tdn5030 |
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Posts: 5 | A few tips from someone who has fished that river with success. The susquehanna is a large river that fishes differently from the Lancaster area the whole way up the north branch into Newyork or the west branch up to Williamsport. This time of year the fishing is tough, but more importantly the water temps are too high right now in the majority of the river system. Anything above 80 is typically off limits for muskie. Your best bet is fall and winter fishing with glideboaits/ rubbers in the areas with little or no current. Many of the areas i preferred to fish were limited to jet boats and shallow water crafts as some of the big dammed pools are not as productive for me for casting. Also, very rarely do I catch fish that I see on rivers around here, however it has happened. Top-waters and double tens at night do work this time of year, but be careful with rocks. As for spots go fish where you have seen fish and fish it hard. I like to start in areas that have some of the deeper water in the area, preferably two or three deep holes in a row with a few shallow sections in between. Then fish that entire area hard, starting on the deeper current side, then the shallow low current side, then a drift just casting to the middle, fish the ends of holes right before ripples and then the fast current leading into the deep holes after the riffles. Yes, burning double 10's is productive on that river, but you would probably want a new set up to do it a lot as it it tough on body and equipment. You need to fish a lot of time to figure these fish out and I would advise you to join you local muskies INC chapter and meet guys there. | ||
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